By Dan Walsh
American playwright Christopher Durang (born in New Jersey, 1949) is known for his works of outrageous and often absurd comedy and Gorey Little Theatre draws back the curtains for a 45-minute play by Durang titled The Actor’s Nightmare directed by Stephen Acton.
It happens every Wednesday and Friday during the month of July with an 8.30pm start. The play is supported by a short piece called Mrs Sorken also the creation of Christopher Durang.
Seating is limited to 50 under Covid-19 pandemic regulations and a come first served system will be in operation and tickets are booked through Gr8events.ie.
The Actor’s Nightmare is a short comic play that involves an accountant named George Spelvin, who is mistaken for an actor’s understudy and forced to perform in a play for which he does not know any of the lines.
The play was inspired by dreams actors and performers often have in which they are about to go onstage and cannot remember their lines or rehearsal instructions. Durang himself had an actor’s nightmare after performing in this play in which he could not remember any lines, could not find his script and when he did find the script it was gibberish to him.
The Gorey cast features; GEORGE (Ronan Byrne); MEG (Paula Acton); SARAH SIDDONS (Karen Dunbar); DAME ELLEN TERRY (Amanda Sheil); MARY ANDERSON (Jacqui Whelan); SUSAN BARSTOW (Joan Duignan); HENRY IRVING (Michael Stokes) and EXCUTIONER (Fin Brennan). The play is directed by Stephen Acton.
